Folding table



July 25, 1939. w. H. YQRK 2,167,342

FOLDING TABLE INVENTOR.

- July 25, 1939.

w. H. YORK 2,167,342

FOLDING TABLE Filed April 9, 1938 2 Sheecs-Sheeil 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 25, 1939 AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

particularly, to improvements in that type of folding table wherein thetop comprises hinged sections adapted ltn fold together, and whereinmeans arev provided for causing the table legs to.

automaticallyV fold and unfold in companyV with the correspondingfolding ,movements ofthe table.

top

Y 's invention has as an object to provide, in al folding table of thetype above mentioned, an improved means for operatively interconnectinghinged legs with the foldable sections of the table top, whereby themovements of the latter are transmitted to the former and so translatedas to cause the legs to simultaneously fold or unfold as the top isfolded- .or unfolded.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novelv arrangementand lconstruction of legk moving and controlling means to be actuated bythe foldable table top sections, and which additional-ly operate tofirmly. hold the legs in either their folded or unfolded condition, asthe case may be.

Other objects of this nvention, notv at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the foldable table according tothis-.invention shown in open condition; Fig. 2 is a sectional view,taken on line 2.-2 Vin Fig. 1.; Fig. 3 is another sectional view, takenon line 3--3 in Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is4 a bottom view similar to that showninFig.v l, but showing the table in the process offbeing lcollapsed-.tofolded up condition; andFig. 5 is a perspective view of the table infolded up condition, this view .being drawn on a somewhat reduced scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

The novel folding table according to this invention comprises a pair ofhingedly connected table top sections A and B. Each such top sec. tioncomprises a rectangular top frame 'formed by an inner rail I 0, an outerrail II, and connecting end rails I2, suitably joined in frame 'formingrelation. Said inner rails I0 of the respective top frames are laterallyopposed in somewhat spaced apart relation, as determined by spacingblocks I3 suitably secured to one or the otherv thereof, and said topframes are ioldably .wconnected together `by hinge members I4 affixed toand between the opposedinner rails I0 thereof. Suitably secured to theupper sides of said top frames are table top members I5, the innermeetying kmargins of which are preferably provided with interttingportions comprising, a male edge portion I6` at `the margin of one ofsaid top membenandv a female edge portion II at the margin of the othertop member; said male edge portion being adapted to enter the femaleedge portion when said top members I5 are swung into open condition tooccupy a common extended plane (see Fig. 2).v v

Leg members I8 are pivotal-ly connected with the top frame of table topsection A respectively adjacent to the juncturesof the outer and endrails of said section A. The pivotal connections for said leg members`I8 are provided by pivoting rods I9V which are aflixed to and extendbetween the inner and outer rails II) and II adjacent to,v thek endrails I2Y .of the top frame of table top section A. Said leg members lI8are relatively off-set one to the other, so as to pass one another whenfoldingr to collapsed condition in which they lie parallel to the outerrail II and to each other. Preferably means are provided to form,receiving compartments 20 for said leg members I8 when the same areinfolded, such means comprising partition members 2| secured to andextending between the end rails I2 of the top frame of table top sectionA. In like manner, leg members 22 are pivotally connected with the topframe of table top section B by corresponding pivoting rods I9, and soas tofold into Vcompartments 20 formed by partition members 2I inconnection with the top frame of gtheg table top section B.

vThe means for actuating the leg members I8 of table topsection A areconnected with and actuated by movements of the table top section B,and, vice versa, the means for actuating the leg members 22,01? tabletop section B are connected With and actuated by movements of the tabletop section A. The means for producing outswinging unfolding movementsof the leg members I8 of table top section A comprise leg outswingingpull cables 23 which are afXed, by suitable anchoring means 24, to theend rails I2 of -the to-p frame of table section B at pointsintermediate the inner and outer rails I0 and I I of saidframe, thenceto extend to and through stationary guide means or eyes 25 which areaiiixed to the end rails I2 of the top frame of the table top section Aoutwardly of but substantially opposite the leg members I8 tobe servedthereby, to which the outer ,ends of said pull cables 23l are aixed, bysuitable anchoring means 26, at points outwardly or downwardly spacedfrom the fulcrum connections of said leg members I8 with their pivotingrods I9.

In like manner, the means for producing outswinging unfolding movementsof the leg members 22 of table top section B comprise leg outswingingpull cables 21 which are aixed, by suitable anchoring means 28, to theend rails I2 of the top frame of table section A, thence to extend toand through stationary guide means or eyes 29 affixed to the end railsof the frame of table top section B, thence passing to the leg members22 to which the same are affixed, by suitable anchoring means 39.

The outswinging pull cables 23 and 21, for correspondingly located legmembers I8 and 22 of the respective table top sections A and B, havepor-V tions disposed adjacent one to the other. Embracing theseadjacently disposed portions of the pull cables 23 and21 are links 3I towhich areV respectively connected take-up springs 32, the latter beingsuitably anchored to anchoring means 3l respectively affixed to therespective inner rails III of the topframes of the respective table topsections A and B. These take-up springs 32 serve to 'take up the slackof said outswinging pull cables 23 and 2'I when the latter are relaxedby folding the table top sections A and B into closed together relation.

The means for .producing inswinging folding movements of the leg membersI8 of table top section A, comprise leg inswinging pull cables 33, whichare affixed, by suitable anchoring means 34, to the inner side of theinner rail I0 ofthe top frame of table top section B, extending thencethrough or across the adjacent innerrails of both top frames at a planeoutwardly offset from theV plane of the hinge connections therebetween,thence extending toand through stationary guide means or eyes 35 opposedto the inner sides of said leg members I8 in suitably spaced relation tothe latter, and thence to aixed connection with said leg members I8, bysuitable anchoring means 36, at points outwardly or downwardly spacedfrom the fulcrum connections of said leg members I8 with their pivotingrods I 9. Preferably the guide means or eyes 35 are formed byperforations in diagonally disposed bridge bars 3l which arerespectively supported between the outer rail and adjacent end rails ofthe top frame structure adjacent to the outer or upper face levelthereof.

In like manner, the means for producing inswinging folding movements ofthe leg members 22 of table top section B, comprise similar leginswinging pull cables 38, iwhich are axed,by suitable anchoring .means39, to the inner side of the inner rail I0 of the top frame of table topsection A, extending thence through or across the adjacent inner railsof both top frames at a plane outwardly offset from the plane of thehinge connections therebetween, and thence through guide means or eyes49 of bridge bars 4I to similar affixed connection at 42 with said legmembers 22.

In the operation of the table, assuming the same to be in open conditionand desired to be folded to closed position, the operator merely liftsand turns the same upside down, and thereupon folds the top sections Aand B toward one another, to thus close one upon the other as shown inFig. 5. As the top sections A and B swing toward each other, the leg'outswinging pull cables 23 and 2'I are relaxed to themovement of theirrespective anchor points 24 and 28, as respectively fixed to onesection, toward the other section which carries the legs respectivelycontrolled thereby. As the leg outswinging pull cables 23 and 2'I thusrelax their pull upon the leg members, the leg inswinging pull cables 33and 38 are subjected to a pulling tension by the movement of theirrespective anchor points 34 and 39, as respectively xed to one section,away from theV other section which carries the legs respectivelycontrolled thereby, thus exerting an inward pull upon said leg memberswhich causes the same to swing inwardly about the fulcruming pivot rodsI9 to infolded positions within the planes of the top frames to whichthey are connected. These operations will be understood from aninspection of Fig. 4. It

will be observed that during the described infolding movements of saidleg members, the relaxation of the outswinging pull cables will permitthe leg members to readily respond to the pulling movements of theinswinging pull cables. The slack of said outswinging pull cables whenthus relaxed is immediately taken up by the tension of the takeupsprings 32, so that the latter cablesr arezdrawn within the connes ofthe closed together table top the same time the leg inswingingpullcables 33 and 38 will relax to permit the leg members to fully respondto the pull of said outswinging cables. y

From the above it will be apparentthat a very simple and yet efficientmeans is provided for translating the movements of hinged togetherextendible table top sections to leg members attached thereto so that bythe single actof folding or unfolding said top sections, the legs willbe automatically moved to correspondingly folded or unfolded relationsthereto. When the novel table structure is folded up, it is reduced to avery compact bulk, easily handled, and adapted to occupy a minimum ofstorage space; and at the same time all the operative mechanism will befully enclosed within the connes of the closed vtogether table topsections. extended, the latter-will be braced by the oppositely directedtensions of the outswinging and inswinging pull cables', which thusbalance eachY other and tend to hold'` the legs steady, and the tablefirmly supported. I

Various changes could be made inthe above described embodiment'of myinvention, and many apparently widely different embodimentsl of the samecould be made 'without departing from the scope thereof as defined bythe following claims. It is therefore intended that all'matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: Y

1. A folding table, comprising a pair of hingedly connected topsections, leg members pivotally mounted adjacent to the outer cornerportions of each top section so as to fold parallel to each other and tothe side of the top section on which they are mounted opposite thehinged side thereof, guided leg outswinging pull cables attached to eachleg member'to extend to anchored'connection with the top sectionopposite to that which carries the leg members controlled thereby,'and

When the tableis open and its legs guided leg inswinging pull cableslattached to each leg member to likewise extend to anchored connectionwith the top section opposite to that which carries the leg memberscontrolled thereby.

2. A folding table, comprising a pair of rectangular top-frames carryingtop members on their upper sides, said top frames having their innerrails hingedly interconnected, leg members pivotally mounted adjacent tothe outer corner portions of said top frames so as to fold parallel toeach other and to the outer rails of the latter, a leg outswinging pullcable connected to extend from the outer side of each leg member, cableguide means in outwardly offset relation to each leg member, means toanchor each leg outswinging pull cable to an end rail of a top frameopposite to that which carries the leg member from which the cableextends, a leg inswinging pull cable connected to extend from the innerside of each leg member, a cable guide means in inwardly offset relationto each leg member, said leg inswinging cables extending across the topframe inner rails in planes upwardly oiset relative to the plane of thehinge connection joining said inner rails, and means to anchor each leginswinging pull cable to an inner rail of a top frame opposite to thatwhich carries the leg member from which the cable extends.

3. In a folding table as defined in claim 1, including spring means fortaking up the slack of said leg outswinging pull cables when the sameare relaxed.

4. In a folding table as defined in claim 2, including spring means fortaking up the slack of said leg outswinging pull cables when the sameare relaxed.

WILLIAM H. YORK.

